callivert - 6:47 pm on Jun 7, 2007 (gmt 0)

I don't think selling ads is the goal of the guidelines

I agree. This is just FUD.

Are there any Webmasters or SEOs here who really, honestly doesn't understand what Google means when it refers to the "spirit" of the Google Webmaster guidelines?

Well said, EFV. Let's drop the pretense. We all know what the real issues are here: aggressive link-building.
I know of a tiny 4 page site with no original information but serious ads. It's beautifully optimized and sits at number 1 for a competitive two word phrase... in every single search engine (except Ask).
It shouldn't be there. Every time I hear people moaning and complaining about Google's attempts to combat SERP manipulation, I go and check out that site. Still there.
It's my own private litmus test of the state of search.

But please, go ahead, wail and gnash your teeth that Google doesn't understand your honest, hardworking efforts in building 7000 backlinks last week.